Migraine

I have migraine. Had it since I was in my early 20s. Initially, it was infrequent and the pain was mild and highly tolerable. Slowly, it progressed to more frequent attacks. It came almost every two months, and the pain characteristic of migraine impeded me from doing my daily tasks. Then it just went away, did not visit me for a year or two.

I almost thought migraine can be "outgrown". But no, it cannot. Some four years ago, migraine became a constant unwelcome visitor. It came every month, with regular punctuality, a day or two before my monthly period.

Aside from my monthly period which triggers my monthly migraine, I have identified other triggers:

• chocolate - I really crave for this or anything sweet before a migraine attack
• cigarette smoke
• mint candies like mentos and snow bear, and most especially when I have them before taking any solid and real food
• some perfume scents, Polo Sport is one.
• car fresheners 
• lack of sleep
• bright lights
• skipping meals
• crowd (maybe the noise and the various "human"smell)
• junk food

I know when it is going to attack me. It is usually preceded by tummy disturbance. Either I am constipated or I have diarrhea. I always go to the restroom with increased frequency to pee. I crave for sweets. I get easily irritated. An hour or two before the full attack, I get an inexplicable feeling. Sometimes, I see flashes of light or black dots floating on air.

Then, the pain behind one of my eyes begin. Mild pain at the start, slowly intensifying until the entire one side of my temple is freakingly throbbing. It is so painful that I can't look down for fear that my eyeballs will fall off. I can't stand light. The slightest noise annoys me. I want complete darkness. I want complete silence, not even the cuckoo of the clock. The pain eases up a bit if I vomit, which I rarely do.

The intense pain lasts for the entire day. The residual pain lasts for two more days, including my abnormal tummy activity. By the time it completely subsides, I feel so washed up and wasted.

Only a migraine sufferer can understand another migraine sufferer. Yet I do not wish migraine to fall upon anybody just so he/she  can understand me. 


I have to credit my husband for keeping the kids busy downstairs and letting me have my piece of darkness and quiet in our bedroom whenever I get attacked, although sometimes I think he thinks I am merely over-acting.

Now, excuse me. I am beginning to see flashes of light. :(